Award categories open to all women who work for or have a leadership role in any business, organisation or public sector body in the region, or those demonstrating best practice in gender diversity are;

AWARDS CRITERIA

Nominations must be for a woman-owned or woman working in business in the region.

Must show evidence of determination and drive.

Demonstrate a great business idea or acumen.

Show a thorough understanding of their marketplace (market research).

Display evidence of great customer service.

Provide financial data for the last trading year (Susan Dobson Award only)*.

ALL nominees must display evidence of the above criteria, in addition to the specific criteria for each category entered.

NB: Please note that all shortlisted entrants for business owners will be asked to produce financial data/accounts when visited.

CATEGORY CRITERIA

The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship
This Flagship Award is given in honour of a truly remarkable entrepreneur, Susan Dobson. The Award, sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund, is to recognise a woman who, over the last 5 years or more, has achieved outstanding success in creating or growing a new or existing enterprise. The winner will have vision, enthusiasm, leadership and a stubborn refusal to be dissuaded from her chosen path!

What the judges are looking for:

Businesses trading for at least 5 years on 19th July 2018.

Accounts for the last trading year.

Inspirational women.

Impact the nominees have had in the business and on the community.

Influence within their industry or community.

External focus.

Sustained profitability.

Longevity.

Number of jobs created.

Investment in people.

Potential for growth.

Joanna Feeley Winner of Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship 2017

Best Small Business Award

This Award welcomes entries from all businesses with less than 50 employees. The entrants will demonstrate strong brand values and clear evidence that the business is moving forward as well as excellent customer service.

What the judges are looking for:

Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 19th July 2018.

Businesses with less than 50 employees.

Unique selling point – what are you doing over and above your competitors? How do you differentiate yourself?

Best New Business Award
This Award will go to a woman who has launched a new venture with passion, enthusiasm and an unwavering desire to succeed. We are looking for a woman who started trading less than 2 years ago, with a great idea and who looks destined for long term success.

What the judges are looking for:

Businesses trading more than 6 months but less than 2 years on 19th July 2018.

Motivation to setting up and running the business & level of innovation in the idea.

Business potential & future growth.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Vitality, ambition and determination are important in every business. This Award is for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, under 30 who can add talent to the equation. We are delighted to recognise the talents prevalent in the young people of today and are keen to showcase their successes and support growth in this sector in the future.

What the judges are looking for:

Businesses trading for 18 months or more on 19th July 2018.

Aged under 30 on 19th July 2018 *NB Proof can be requested.

Motivation to setting up and running the business & level of innovation in the idea.

Growth potential…profit and employment growth.

Best Creative Business AwardThe North East is a hub for creative companies and individuals; this award will highlight, recognise and celebrate a woman entrepreneur who demonstrates a flair for creativity and innovation in her business.

The creative sector encompasses many disciplines including marketing, dance, graphic design, photography, visual art, dance and fashion to name a few. To build a successful business in these sectors is challenging, the judges will be looking for a woman who shows passion, persistence and forward thinking within their business, someone who can demonstrate innovation, good practice and determination to succeed in a demanding creative world.

What the judges are looking for:

Businesses trading for 2 years or more on on 19th July 2018.

A business model which is underpinned by creativity and innovation.

Women owned/women led.

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The Leadership Award
The Leadership Award is to recognise a women who demonstrates strong leadership qualities and is a true role model to those she works with. As an employee or supporting Director of the organisation, the Leadership Award is open to women in a senior position playing a key role in the transformation, development or growth of a business or organisation.

What the judges are looking for:

Woman must have been in the role for more than 3 years.

Strong leadership qualities.

Impact leader made on the business.

Rising Star AwardThis Award acknowledges and celebrates the significant contributions that apprentices, school leavers or graduates make to businesses across the North East of England. The deserved winner of this award will be a woman who has been able to demonstrate commitment, integrity, determination and enthusiasm to their role, as well as their achievements and the fantastic impact and contributions they are making to their organization. This woman will have recently joined a business, or has set up her own business, straight from school, university, college or as an apprentice.

What the judges are looking for:

Evidence of a proven high performer with the hunger to seize extra responsibility.

The impact this woman could make on inspiring the next generation as role models to girls in education.

The Inspire Me AwardAwarded to the individual who has positively influenced women to succeed in their careers, education or business role models have a crucial part to play in showing girls and women everywhere that they too can have amazing careers in the sector. That's why we believe this award will recognise those that inspire other women in business to succeed through mentoring, networking, supporting, educating or direct business support.

What the judges are looking for:

How this woman helped other women or girls make a change in their life to overcome obstacles or become motivated to take a leap forward in business.

Best Practice AwardIn a time where gender diversity still needs to change in many workplaces and sectors, this award is aimed to celebrate and showcase organisations that have put gender equality at the core of their business agendas and are committed to creating equal, diverse and inclusive workplaces. The business will have taken integrated steps to embed equality at all levels with initiatives to support this change. The company will be able to demonstrate fair and equitable processes to attract, develop and retain a diverse and gender balanced talent pool.

What the judges are looking for:

Evidence to show how the management team and employees are consistently doing their best to continuously support initiatives to changing culture in gender diversity.

Evidence of how organisations have put gender at the core of their business agendas and are committed to creating equal, diverse and gender inclusive workplaces.

Emily Cox of Virgin Money winners of Best Practice Award with James Ramsbotham of NEE Chamber

Woman in STEM AwardThe North East is home to world-leading scientific and engineering talent and capabilities. This Award will recognise an exceptional woman in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, who has pioneered new discoveries and/or been instrumental in bringing the benefits of those discoveries to market for economic and social impact.

The winner of this Award will have shown persistence and tenacity in pursuing scientific excellence of truly world-class quality, whether in academia or in business. The judges will be looking for a significant track record of discovery, research and development.

What the judges are looking for:

Evidence of impact being made in a STEM environment.

How your role has been instrumental in bringing new discoveries to market or making headway in this sector.

How you can be seen as a role model to encourage other girls/women into STEM jobs.